Chapter 4: The Needle (Loki’s POV)

I'm sitting on my bed as three of the buffoons that live here enter. They told me that they knew that I had been mind-controlled, which was correct, yes, but they don't have the whole story. Luckily for me, they didn't ask. The one who has the anger issues says I have to come with them to the med bay. I knew fighting would be no use so I got from the comfortable position I was in and sat on the edge of the bed. Stark kept looking at my arms. He probably was wondering where the bruises came from. I was offered the doctor's hand but I refused not wanting to show more weakness than I had already. So I got up shakily, almost falling over as I stood up. I took a couple of shaky steps which were excruciating. My legs gave out on me and I try my best to quickly get up but it was difficult. This happens a couple more times until I finally got to sit down on the bed that was there. The doctor had asked Thor to completely dampen my powers with the cuffs which I did not appreciate. Then the annoyance they call Banner told me to take my shirt off so he could "Help", I do but unwillingly. I could see Stark looking at me once again, I suppose I must look in awful shape as I had been with Thanos a year. Banner took a cloth against one of the cuts making it burn, I hid my winces as I didn't want to show how weak I actually was.

*"Are you ready to comply, Jotun," The Mad Titan had just burnt some of my flesh with a match. As part frost giant this affected me greatly leaving me in worse pain than I had been in the many months of being with Thanos.*

I shake my head, now is not the time to panic.

"I'm going to apply more alcohol to the wounds' ' Banner says, changing rags as the other one is soaked in my blood and pus.

I nod bracing myself so I won't panic. I feel the familiar burning sensation as I clench the edge of the medical bed.

*"You'd be your best self with me, God of Mischief, leave behind the father that never cared, the brother that stole the spotlight you deserved, and the mother who claims to love you, but only values you as a magical warrior that does her bidding," Thanos says each word slowly and drawn out, putting emphasis on the words that cut through me like a knife.*

I shake my head once again trying to clear it but now my whole body is shaking, Banner must notice as he says "Almost done then we move on to the next step."

I nod trying to keep my body from violently shaking but it's not working. Banner is over there prepping something that I can't see.

"This is made for Asgardians since they're tougher than Humans," He says.

He turns around and comes over to the large gash on my chest and just before he pierces my skin I realize he is using a needle. I jump back to the edge of the bed, almost falling off. My head starts spinning out of control and I can't think clearly. I do the only thing I can and cower away from the needle sitting in the corner.

*I'm sitting in front of fathe…Odin and he is yelling at me as he always did when I was younger, he's accusing me of cutting Sif's hair, I know I did not, however, Sif claims it was me and it is her words against mine. Odin says that liars are not permitted in the Odinson family as we are of royal blood. Two guards clamp power dampening cuffs on me and holding back my arms. Another guard comes with a needle and a durable thread. He holds my mouth shut and slowly he pierces the needle in and out of my mouth as if sewing a quilt. I feel the blood slowly drip down my mouth. When I try to open my mouth I can feel the thread pulling in my lips. Odin orders the guards to take me back to my room. When they threw me in there I tried everything I could to break the thread but it wouldn't budge. So I sat on my bed silently crying. Odin took it off a week later, a day before mother came back from being off-world. I hid the holes in my lips with an illusion so I looked normal as bothering anyone was not an option.*

I can feel tears running down my cheeks as I try not to flip out even more. My breath was going out of control as I was breathing quite rapidly. I raise my hands quickly to my mouth and use my fingers to make sure there is no thread there. When I feel there isn't any I start calming down enough to feel embarrassed of how I freaked out in front of Thor and Banner not to mention woke a sleeping Stark. If I kept my emotions in check everything would be fine. But no, my mind decided to give flashbacks of that day instead. Banner looked confused as he set the needle down.

"What happened? I didn't even pierce your skin with the needle? Banner says in an odd voice.

"It..it's nothing" My voice gives me away as it's shaking uncontrollably, just like the rest of me. Thor too looks confused, as I never told anyone about what happened that week. Thor was too busy training to know when we were younger and I never told him. It was simple as that.

"Brother? Why do you cower from the needle?" Thor asks me, looking concerned, as I am still in the corner of the bed. I force myself to unblock my chest and scoot closer to the edge. I ignore Thor's question and brace myself for the needle but as soon as it comes near I feel my heart thumping loudly as my brain fogs.

*I'm in my room still trying to get the thread from my mouth after a week of it not moving. Odin comes in guards behind him. I flinch as they pick me up roughly holding my arms behind my back once more. Odin this time however steps in front of me and uses a dagger to cut the thread. The guards let me go, causing me to fall to the ground. I test my mouth to see if it could still move. It could but it was painful and stiff. I tried stretching my jaw as Odin and the guards watched. "Thank you father, I will be better next time," I say guilt stabbing my insides though I knew I did nothing wrong. Odin nodded and he left as did the guards. I sat back down on my bed. Running my fingers across my dry lips taking croaky breaths. I put my fingers across the holes that formed from the initial thread and the pulling that ensued after that.*

My hands went to my mouth and ran my fingers through my lips checking they were not sewn together once again. Apparently, I had fallen off the bed as Thor was shaking me "Brother, Brother! Are you ok?"

I nod, my chest is falling and rising rapidly. I push myself up and sit on the bed still touching my lips. Banner is looking at me with curiosity.

"No needle" I manage to croak out as my throat suddenly goes dry.

Banner looks at me "Why?" he says.

I don't answer.

"Loki, brother you may tell me anything you wish, I am here for you," Thor says an expression resembling a sad puppy dog appears on his face.

I feel the anger swelling inside. I try to ignore it, I try to push it down so I may go back to the room to have some peace. But I can't hold in the anger any longer.

"OF COURSE, Thor you'll be there for me, just like you were there when I had my mouth sewn shut! You weren't, you were off with your friends not even noticing that your brothe….. that I was sitting in my room unable to talk!" I yell at Thor making Stark jump as he had fallen asleep again. Their faces turned pale making them resemble ghosts. I realize my words have landed and it is too late to take them back now.

"Brother, why didn't you….how didn't I see…." Thor stutters.

"Don't Thor" I say looking down at my hands "It doesn't matter."

Banner looks as if he's going to faint, though he manages to come over near me.

"Loki, I'm just going to stitch your wounds, nothing else," Banner says, walking towards me like a small child.

I scoff, nodding my head trying to conceal the fright inside me at the needle. I look away as I feel the needle pierce my skin. My brain goes into panic mode once again but I'm able to hold it back this time.

"That's the only one that needed stitches, the rest just needs to be wrapped," Banner says in an attempt at a comforting voice.

I nod just wanting to go back to the confined room, I know this won't happen however as I'm sure they have questions I'll have to answer.

Stark gets up and walks over to me as Banner bandages my whole torso practically. Then he puts bandages around the gashes on my arms.

"I know your healing Loki but we're going to need you to tell us and the team what happened," Stark says making it seem as if he just read my mind. I raise my eyebrows then nod knowing it's no use fighting as I'll be in their captivity for a while. Stark sighs and walks back over to a chair sitting down once again.

"You're all bandaged up now!" Banner says backing up.

"Thank you, Banner," I say, trying my best to stand up. Thor attempts to help but I push him away.

"Where am I required to go?" I say looking from Banner to Stark still shaking as I stand. Stark gets up from his chair "follow me."

Stark leaves the room, and I follow suit.

As we are walking Stark says "J.A.R.V.I.S, tell the team to meet in the conference room, in 5 minutes."

I was wondering why Stark was speaking to nothing when a voice replied from above. "Yes, Mr. Stark."

The voice made me jump as I was not expecting it. I kept following Stark until he finally stopped and opened a door. This must be the conference room. Nobody was here yet though as I was thankful for. Stark pointed to a seat and I sat down in it because my whale body was shaking from walking. People started filing in, first, it was Rogers, then Banner, and the others I was too nervous to identify. Rogers asked a question but my heart was pounding in my ears.

I hear Stark say "Go ahead Loki, you have the floor."

I stood up steadying myself using the chair I was just sitting on and began.